"Alpha" on the Thames.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3547, 8 May 1880, Page 2

"Alpha" on the Thames.

Judging from the manner in which strangers are received in Auckland and at the Thames, the latter place is certainly preferable.- Whether*this apparent good-will towards new-comers arises out of interested motives, or feelings of disinterested friendship, it is difficult to tell. But to all appearance the good folks of the gold emporium of the North, are more hospitable and jolly than in the capital of the province. It requires however, a great amount of that hospitality to counteract the depressing effects of being in a place where there is no kind of amusement, if " tea-fights " and rowdy rinking be excepted. With reference to amusements, there used to be some, some few years ago, when the good times were in this town, and when the fabulous wealth spoken of by fortunate miners, and others who had honestly or dishonestly obtained a " fortune," had the effect of drawing great crowds to the Thames. At that time the place was a busy one. The steamers plied to and fro, several times during the day, and people were constantly coming and going from Auckland. The gold fever was at its height, and everyone from the Governor to the sweep's 'prentice was seized by the devouring enemy, who in many cases was too many for his assailants, Little knots of men might have then been seen with dilated nostrils, and protruding eyeballs, engaged at the corner of the streets, in deep, interesting, and earnest conversation. They would end their conference with a Masonic sign or perchance an ordinary wink, and would disperse without a word. The next few days would either disclose a grand company formed, or some swindle worked artfully upon the ignorant and unsuspicious public. The said company would be floated, and for a few days the prospects would be good. The promoters would sell out, and the swindle would be only discovered when too late. Then the Thames was full of people, rushing, walking, cabbing, ambling, and looking generally as if they were going to be hanged next minute —such was their anxiety over their shares. Men lived on shares; they eat, drauk, and slept on shares! Shares! shares! So-and-so has so many shares in this, that, or other mines, and he has gone mad because they have been a dead loss. The same men who walked about with money in their pockets, were the men who had "rooked" it out of their v more unsophisticated brethren. These men who have caused the ruin of. thousands, now are many of them living on the fat of the land. They are true Christian men, build churches, give endowments to Sunday Schools, and look pious. Perhaps they rest their faith on tbe verse which says, that "Charity covers a multitude of sins." These very men.whopeople look up to and cfreep round, and who are considered " good men," are nearly all rogues retired from a highly profitable public robbery. The place was a respectable one then, and not the effete and dead and alive place it is now. Then there were theatres, " penny gaffs," and amusements of a very fair- order of merit. Then there was some amusement to relax one's mind by partaking in. Even a " cheap Jack " or a " barrel organ " would to some extent relieve the monotony which vow wraps'the Thames in a sombre colud. One takes a walk after staying in doors as long as possible, and what does one seep On one side hills semi-perforated, and on the other the firth. Stay, there were, and are to be seen some disgraceful old half-decayed houses uninhabited, and allowed to remain an eye-sore to passers by. This is a pleasant change, as the rugged contrast affords a not at all unpleasant view to the visitor. It is stated that some few months ago His Worship the^. Mayor made a motion to compel the owners of such buildings to remove them, and indeed notices were posted on the doors to that effect. All praise to the worshipful authority, who endeavoured to bring such a desirable change into effect, although the loss to the landscape would no doubt be irreparable! and visitors and others living in the Thames district would only have two views—the hills and_ the water. But it appears that the notices of the worthy magnate have been totally ignored, and the nuisances remain unto this day. Efforts should be made to wipe out these standing disgraces to the place, although no doubt the scenic effects would undergo a great and possibly undesirable change! Whether the law will touch the owners of these delapidated and rotten habitations, it is not known, but a step has been taken in the right direction, and it is to be hoped will be rewarded with success. The big men of the Thames are very affable for their social important positions, and are men of good families and fair education. The Thames has also its orators, and while one stares at theßefulgent Spate, one remembers that jt has grown Grey in the course of time. Ihe denizens of the Thames are devotees of the Knight of Kow-Wou, and a general feeling in favor of liberalism is in vogue. Of tbe other attributes which make up the whole I must speak in a future letter.

Alpha.